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Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract

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Abstract:

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Oakford Archaeology in January 2014 during work at Watchfield Lawn, Highbridge, Somerset. The site lies in an area of archaeological potential on the edge of the former river Siger. Undated earthworks and cropmarks have been identified to the west and south, while evidence for Romano-British salt workings has been found just to the northeast of the site. Preliminary archaeological work included a desk-based assessment and a geophysical survey, carried out by Substrata in April 2013. This identified a number of linear and other anomaly patterns including a possible ditched routeway. It was therefore considered possible that remains or deposits of prehistoric or Roman date may survive within the footprint of the development. A watching brief was maintained during works associated with the construction of a solar farm and associated cabling works. Five separate trenches, totalling 1100m, were monitored. These were on average 0.5m wide and 0.6m deep, and revealed a simple deposit sequence of topsoil above alluvial subsoil extending across the entire site. No deposits, features or dating evidence indicative of archaeological activity was found. The lack of pottery and other finds from the site, despite examination of spoil heaps, further indicates that the site is archaeologically sterile. The work identified deep alluvial deposits across the entire site, suggesting that archaeological deposits may survive at a greater depth than any below ground disturbance associated with the development.